"WITH FETTERS THEY BOUND HIS FEET" - Conclusion

 The account gives us this reassuring answer: "Jehovah continued to be with Joseph and kept showing loyal love to him." (Genesis 39:21) No prison walls, no fetters, no lightless dungeons can keep Jehovah's loyal love from reaching his servants.  (Romans 8:38, 39) We may well imagine Joseph pouring out his agony to his dear heavenly Father in prayer and then receiving the kind of peace and calm that only "the God of all comfort" can provide. (2 Corinthians 1:3, 4; Philippians 4:6, 7) What else did Jehovah do for Joseph? We read that he kept granting Joseph "favor in the eyes of the chief officer of the prison. 

The prisoners were evidently given work to do, and Joseph again gave Jehovah something to bless. He worked hard, doing his best at what task was assigned him and leaving the rest to Jehovah. With Jehovah's blessing, Joseph gained trust and respect, just as he had in Potiphar's household. We read: "So the chief officer of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners in the prison, and everything that they were doing there, he was the one having it done. The chief officer of the prison was looking after nothing that was in Joseph's care, for Jehovah was with Joseph and Jehovah made whatever he did successful."  (Genesis 39:22, 23) What a comfort for Joseph to know that Jehovah was caring for him!

We may come upon some devastating twists and turns in life, even some cruel injustices, but we can learn from the faith of Joseph.  If we keep close to Jehovah in prayer, stay loyal to his commands, and work hard at what is right in his eyes, we will give him something to bless. In Joseph's case, Jehovah had even great blessings in store, as we shall see in the future articles in this series.

Next time: IMITATE THEIR FAITH/JOSEPH - "Do Not Interpretations Belong to God?" 

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